Skip-loading gate



Jul-1e 4, 1929- I A. ALLEN ET AL. 1,716,289

SKIP LOADING GATE` Filed May 13, 1927 2 Sheets-'Sheet l E? n @cul/war*June 4, 1929. 4 L A. ALLN ET AL 1,716,289

SKIP LOADING GATE Filed May 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lune 4,i929.

Juri' stares aereas ANDREWS ALLEN, OF GLENGQE, ILLNOS, AND DANIEL F.LEPLY, DECEASED, LATE OF CONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVAL A, BY PAUL V. LELEY,EXECU'TOB., OF 003% NELLSVILLEQ PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE'HALF TOALLEN @c GARCA' COV., OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, A CORPORATION OF LLNOIS, ANDOlil'EeHALF TO THE CONNELLSVILLE MFG. 6r, MNE SUPPLY CO., OFCONNELLSVLLLE, PENTS-YLVNA, A CORPORATION 'OF PENNSYLVANIA,

SKIPJLOADNCT GATE;

Applicationl led May 13, 1927. Serial No. 191,208.

This invention relates to automatic skip rihe above recited and otherobjects of the loading apparatus and has particular referinvention Willbe more fully and better underence to a eut-oil' gate with a spout foruse in stood by reference to the accompanying specloading skips inmining operations in measiiication and drawings and will be particu- 5ured amounts. larly pointed out in the appended claims. 55

An obgect of the lnvention is the provision In the drawings: of meanswhereby a hoisting` slnp may be au- F1a'. 1 is a side elevational viewof the intomatically filled with lading' without attenvention7 withcertain parts in vertical section, tion on the part of an operator7 whenthe same showing' one form of the invention With a skip 1o reaches thebottom of a mine shaft. at the lower end of the shaft, and G0 Anotherobject of the invention 1s the pro- Fig. 2 1s a vieu' similar to Figi'.1, showing vision of skip loading means for automatia modiiication ofthe gate `With the spout cally filling` a skip with material to apredemounted thereon so as to be movable.with termined heightl in theskip, thus uniformly respect thereto, also including a wiring dia- 15loading every skip automatically and in eq ual gram and diagrammaticrepresentation-'of the 65 amounts u'ithout necessity for personalatmanner of actuating' the gate for loading purtention to the loading'thereof. poses. Y

A still further object of the invention is to lOdesignates a mine shaftand particularly provide means for delivering material from a the lowerend thereof, in which is shown the zo bin to a skip in measuredquantities. usual hoisting skip 11 operated therein in To Another objectof the invention is 'the prothe usual manner. A bin 12 is provided intovision of skip-loading` means for rapid' filling which the minedmaterial is discharged adjaoil the skip with a minimum amount ofbrealcent the lower end of the shaft.: In the drawage to the lading.ings the bin is shown `as having` sloping bote5 Another object of theinvention is the protom Walls 13 and 14C. The Wall 14 has there- Tvision of means for safely locking all of the in a discharge opening 15.The bin may be members in closed position of the gate ivithsupported inany desirable manner, such as out the aid of auxiliary means such aslatches by a suitable outer wall 16 and foundation 17. or the like. y Adischarge chute 18 is secured to the Wall 14 so Generally speaking thepreferred einbodiof the bin, adapted to direct material from S0 nient ofthe invention comprises a bin having' the opening;v 15 in saidwvalhthischute coma chute leading froman opening therein, with prising the usualbottom and side Walls. An a cut-oill gate pivoted to said chute in amanend gate ,A for said chute with its end Wall ner to be oscillatedabout said pivot for closarcuate is rotatably supported on a` shaft 2Ov35 ing and openingy the chute. ln connection suitably secured to theunder side ofthe dis S5 with the irate a spout is provided fordeliverohargechute 18. One means for holding the ingma erial from thechute into a skip. The gate closed is the provision of a toggle linlinclination ofthe chute and of the spout on connecting the piston of thegate-operating the is such that every skip load of macylinder with thegate so that Whenthe gate is `in teriai is approximately equal, thisbeing;` acin closed position, the link assumes a'position 9@ complisliedby the angle of repose of the mapractically normal to the guideivay,thus pre terial delivered to the skip in conjunction venting' Withoutalatch or equivalent means, with the inclination of the chute and thethe spout from falling back-,into the shaft if spout. Other featuresinclude mechanism the fluid pressure in the cylinder' should be Li5 forautomatically opening and 'closinithe eut-oii. in Fig. 1, the gate A isshown as com- 95 fate the skip is moved to loading position, prising anarcuate end member 19 and side everything; being automatically done, 't"Wall 15) with a'spout 21'V extending; outwardly eliminatint,T the needof personal superiy from the upper end of the end member 19 of andoperation at the bottom of? the shaft by the 'i' :e for projecting intothe sli 'i 11 for 5U an attendant. lea purposeso theAshley walls of tliespout 10o Vangle of inclination of which chute and spout is such thatthe material delivered thcreover to the skip 11 is regulated by theangle of repose of the'material with relation to the chute,

spout and the material in the skip. In order to control the speed ofoutflow from the bin 12, a slidably mounted door 22 is provided for theopening 15. In Fig. 1 this door is shown as operated by a rack bar 23secured thereto, whichis in engagement with a gear wheel 24 controlledby a hand wheel 25 which members are suitably mounted on a bracket 26secured to a beam 27 on a supporting structure 28 restingA preferably onthe foundation 17. Operation of the hand wheel 25 regulates ltheposition of the door 22 so that flow of material through the opening 15may be adjusted from time to time as conditions require. We do not wish,however, to be limited to this particular means for actuating the door22, as any other suitable means will be sufficient for the purposeintended. A similar door may be used with the arrangement of Fig. 2.

For opening the gate A a horizont-ally disposed cylind'er 29 is suitablymounted on the foundation 17 at anyplace convenient to the gate A andthe other parts of the mechanism. A piston 30 operated from the cylinder29 is connected to a cross-head 31 mounted in a guide-way 32 on thefoundation 17, which cross-head 31 is connected by means of a link 33 toa pivot 33a on the gate A. It will be noted that the parts are soarranged that the link 33 assumes a substantially normal position to theguideway when the gate is closed. In other words the link 33 and thepiston 30 form a connection whereby the gate is securely locked inclosed position thus eliminating latches or other fastening means whichhave been employed heretofore and which are readily disarranged. As onemeans for operating the piston 30 ofthe cylinder 29 to actuate the gateA, we may employ fluid pressure,

vin which event there are connectedto the ends of the cylinder 29 supplypipes 34 and v.35 leading to a four-way valve 36 controlled by a valvehandle 37, with an outlet pipe 38 leading from the four-way valve to asump at the bottom of the shaft, into which water or other fluid used inthe operation of the cylinder is discharged. A `fluid supply pipe 39 isprovided leading from a suitable source of supply (not shown) to amanifold 40 having an air hammer 41 connected thereto by means of a pipe42, with a connection 43 from the manifold to the four-way valve 36, themanifold 40 and the air hammer 41 being used for the purpose ofmaintaining a predetermined steady pressure for the operation of thepiston 30 in the cylinder 29 during the actuation of the gate.

We use the term fluid pressure herein in a broad sense as including air,liquid or any similar agency suitable for carrying out the purpose ofour invention.

As one means for actuating the four-way valve 36, we provide a solenoid44, the armature of which is connected to the arm 37 of the valve 36. InFig. 1 the solenoid 44is shown as provided with lead wires 45 and 46from a time limit relay 47, in which leads a switch 48 is connected,having push buttons 49 and 50 therein, by means of which the operationof the solenoid 44 may be manually controlled if desired.

.Adjacent the shaft 10 is a hatchway switch 52 mounted on a supportingmember 51, having an arm 53 projecting outwardly therefrom, adapted tobe engaged by a suitable member on the skip 11, such as a bracket 54, sothat the switch 52 may be actuated with every lowering and hoisting ofthe skip 11. From the switch 52 a conductor 55 extends to a source ofenergy, such as a battery 56, from the opposite side of which aconductor 57 leads to a manually operated cut-out switch 58, thence tothe solenoid 44, the solenoid 44 and the switch 52 being grounded, sothat an electric circuit is established through the solenoid wheneverthe circuit is closed by switch 52, thus controlling the operation ofthe four-way valve 36. Connected to a cominutator on the hub of the gateA are lead wires 60 and 61, which lead to a signal 62 in the hoisthouse, whereby a signal may be given the hoisting engineer to advise himof the position of the gate with respect to the skip.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. 1, the skip 11 is loweredin the shaft 1() and as it reaches the bottom of the shaft the bracket54 thereon actuates the arm 53 of the switch 52, establishing` a circuitthrough the solenoid 44, whereupon the four-way valve 36 is actuated tomove the gate A into full line position shown in Fig. 1. Operation ofthc valve 36 in this manner admits pressure te the left end of thecylinder 29, opening the right end of the cylinder for exhaust, thusmoving the piston to thc right as viewed in this figure, so that anyfluid in the right end of the cylinder is discharged into the sumpthrough the pipe 38. When the gate A is thus opened, `material will flowfrom the bin along the chute 18 over the spout 21 into the skip 11,filling the skip to such position as is determined by the angle ofrepose of the material with respect to the inclination of the chutecylinder 29 and to open the leftend of the cylinder to exhaust,thereupon moving the gate A upwardly into closing position, that is inposition when the arcuate wall 19 thereof covers the end of the chute18, v-:hereupon the flow of material to the skip is cutoff and anymaterial in the spout returned to the chute and the spout 21 isaccordingly turned out of the path of the skip 11, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1. In the meantime the hoisting engineer has received asignal at 62 that the skip is ready to be hoisted'. As he hoists theskip, the bracket 54C thereon, moves the arm 53 of the switch 52 intoopen circuit position, ready to be actuated by the downward movement ofthe skip on its next trip.

The rate of discharge through the opening is controlled by the positionof the sliding door and the inclination of the chute 18 and spout 21,which rate of discharge is determinated prior to the actual operation ofthe device and the amount of material delivered into a skip beingdetermined by the angle of repose of the material and the inclination ofthe chute 18 and spout 21, it being uniform with every skip full ofmaterial, thus making' possible the loading of material from the bin 12into skips, which loads are the same in amount without reqiiiiring thepresence of an attendant. FV e utilise the angle of repose of the coalor other material being loaded into the skip of our invention forcontrolling' the flow of material into the skip. The angle of repose ofcoal, for instance, on steel is one thing and of coal on coal isanother, the latter angle being greater than the former. Hence as thecoal or other material is delivered into the skip and as the angle ofrepose of this material is reached, further flow of the material intothe skip will cease for this reason, thereupon blocking further flow ofthe material along the chute. rlhus'the material itself is utilized tostop itsown flowin the manner just described. A's the gate is moved in aclosed position, any surplus material in `the chute of the gate of F 1will be discharged onto the top of the material in the skip 11', untilthe angle of repose of the material in this chute is reached, whereuponthe flow stops and any excess material in this gate chute will beallowed to fall back into the chute 18. Likewise with respect vtothe'arrangement of Fig. 2 ast-he spout C is raised in the mannerhereinafter described, the flow of material therealong` will taper olfunt-il the angle of repose of the material with respect to this chute isreached, whereupon the flow 4will stop and any excess material remainingin this spout will fall back into the chute 1 8 when the spoutis-moved'to closed position. By reason ofthe arrangement of parts justdescribed, theskip will not overtiow even though the flow should not becut oft" prompt'- ly by actuationv of the gate.' A. hand control switch58 is interposed in the solenoid Circuit so that the device operatesautomatically as long as the switch is closed and the skip is raised andlowered in the usual manner.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, a cut-off gate B is shown, pivoted at 2O tothe under side ofthe chute 18, leading from the bin 12, in thev samemanner as described with reference to Fig. 1. In this modification, aspout C instead of being secured to the gate, as in Fig. 1, is pivotedto gate B at 65, so as to have limited angular movement with respect tothe gate B. This is for the purpose of loading the skip .11 with morematerial than is possible with the form shown in Fig. 1 and toaccomplish this object more rapidly and with less breakage to thelading. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the loading sideof the skip is arranged to slope atan angle of approximately 300 to thevertical, the bottom of the skip being rounded on a longl radius. Itwill be` noted from Fig. 2 that the bottom of the spout C when in itslow-ermost loading position is substantially parallel with the slopingside of the 'skip 11. It is evident therefore that material will flowfrom the bin to the skip more rapidly and with less breakage than if itwere allowed to flow in a mass down the spout, falling to the bottom ofthe skip. Vilith the arrangement as shown in Fig. 2 at the beginning ofthe loading of the skip, the lading will slide down the sloping sidewall of the'skip from the chute until it encounters the curved bottom,thus preventing such impact with the steel sides or bottom of the skipas to break the lading. Furthermore, since the spout-V C in its extremelow positi'on inl loading is substantially parallel to the sloping`sides of the skip, the material comes down along the skip side in a massso that any line material therein will tend to cushion the larger'lumps. As the mass of material inthe skip iills up toa pointsubstantially even with the end of the spout C in its loading position,the spout C will be caused to rise slowly at a predetermined andadjustable rate, so that the end of 'the spout will remain alwaysslightly above the top of the'pile of lading in the skip. At the end ofits upward travel in this position, the chute C will lie at or near theangle of repose of the material in the spout so that the flow ofmaterial will be reduced in amount and speed and will entirely cease,stopped by the angle of repose of the materi al in the skip having beenreached, resulting in that thepile of lading in the skip will have beenbrought vup to the maximum possible height with the minimum amount ofdrop 'throughout' all parts of the loading cycle. In Fig. 2, cylinder Dis provided for actuating the gate B and another cylinder E foractuating the spout C pivoted to the gate B. These cylinders arepreferably horizontally disposed and suitably secured to. the foundationor superstructure underneath the bin 12 in suitable position to functionproperly.

Cooperating with the cylinder D is a piston rod 30 connected to a crosshead31 with a link I33 pivotally connected to the gate B at 33a. Thecylinder E is provided with a piston rod 30a, crosshead 31a with a link33" extending from the cross head 31a to a pivot 33G on the spout C.

For actuating the cylinder D a four-way valve 36 is provided having avalve handle 37 actuated by a solenoid 44. A supply pipe 39 extends tothe four-way valve 36 from any suitable` source of fluid pressure. Ateach end of the cylinder D we provide control elements. Each of theseelements comprises branch pipes 66 and 67, the pipe 66 being formed forintake and the pipe 67 for exhaust. ln the branches 66 are interposedcheck-valves 63 and globe valves 69, while in the branches 67 aresimilar check-valves 70 and globe valves 71, the check-valves 68 beingpositioned to permit flow in but one direction through the branches 66,and the check-valves 70 permitting flow in the opposite direction onlythrough branches 67. The purpose of the valves 69 and 71 is to regulatethe speed of operation of the gate B by cutting down either the flow inthe intake or the exhaust. This same arrangement is used for vregulatingthe How of fluid in the valves connected with cylinder E, which regulatespout C. If air 1s empoyed asa iiuid pressure medium, such regulationwill be obtained by closing the exhaust so that full pressure will Yremain on the piston at all times as a varying load on the gate will notmaterially affect the speed of operation of th-e various parts.

`With respect to cylinder E similar branch connections are provided asindicated at H and K. Each of these connections comprises similarbranches 66 for intake and 67 for exhaust with similar check and globevalves as indicated with reference to cylinder D. For controllingcylinder E a fourway valve 36, similar to valve 36 is provided, having alever 37 actuated by solenoid 44a. A branch of the supply pipe .39 leadsto the four-way valve 36a and from each of the valves 36 and 36?L inFig. 2 exhaust connections 38f lead to a common exhaust 38 as describedwith reference to Figl.

Referring to the wiring diagram shown in Fig., 2, there are ,present twomain conductors L1 and L2 leading from a source of energy.

A hatchway switch 53 is suitably support-- ed near the lower end of theshaft 10 which is normally open. A bracket 54u on the skip 11 ispositioned to close the hatchwayswitch 53n when the skip reaches itslowermost position in the shaft. Another hatchway switch M is positionedto be actuated by the crosshead 3l of the cylinder D. This switchincludes an arm 72 connected to a binding post 73'for cooperating with acontact 74. This switch M is normally open. Another hatchway switch N ispositioned to be actuated by a projection 31" on the piston 30a of thecylinder E. This switch comprises an arm 75 connected to a binding post76 and a contact member 77. This switch is normally closed.

Another hatchway switch 0 is positioned to be actuated by the cross head31 of the cylinder D when the gate B is closed. This switch comprises anarm 7 8 connected to a binding post 79, and with a contact 80.l Thishatchway switch is normally open.

A contactor P with which cooperates a solenoid 81 has two arms 82 and 83communicating with connections 84 and 85 respectively, adapted undercertain conditions to engage contacts 86 and 87. A time limit relay Q isprovided having an armature 88 carrying a contact plate 89 adapted undercertain conditions to bridge the gap, between the contacts 90 and 91.

The circuits controlled by the various switches and operating theseveral mechanisms of the invention are as follows:

Circuit I.

vis established from the conductor L through connection 100, conductor101, contact 53,

larm 53, contact 53h, conductor 102, connection 103, conductor 104 tovswitch N which is closed, through contact 77, arm 75, binding post 76,conductor 105 to solenoid 44 through conductor 106 to connection 107 inL2. This circuit energizes the solenoid 44, whereupon the arm 37 of thefour-way valve 36 is moved to admit pressure to the cylinder D to openthe gate, that'is, move it from the dotted line position in Fig. 3 tothe full line position. When the gate is closed, that is in the dottedline position, the piston 30 of the cylinder D is at its limit of travelto the left asvviewed in this figure, with the parts as shown in dottedlines. Actuation of the four-way valve 36 thereupon admits pressure tothe lefthand end of the cylinder D opening the righthand end thereof toexhaust, whereupon the gate is moved downwardly into the full linenection 112, solenoid 81, conductor 113, connection 114, yto the mainL2. This circuit described is broken.

energizes the solenoid 81 therefore closing the contactor l), that is,moving` the arms 82 and 83 thereof against contacts 86 and 87,establishing two other circuits as follows:

Circuit [[I.

From main L, connection 100, conductor 101, hatchway si Yitch 53a,conductor 102, connection 103, conductor 115, Contact 87, arm 83 of thecontacter P, through connection 85, conductor116,connection112,solenoid8 1,conductor 113, connection 1111, to line L2. This circuit maintainsthe contacter in closed position when the establishing circuit justheretofore yThe second circuit established on the closing of the ContactB is as follows:

Circuit I V.

Main L', connection 100, Conductor 108, connection 109, conductor 117,connection 118, conductor 119, to contact 86ofthe contacter-l), arm 82,connection 84, through the time limit relay Q to line L. at connection1141. rlhis circuit energizes the time limit relay Q. Energization ofthis relay bridges the gap between contacts 90 and '91, establishing acircuit as follows: v

Circuit V.

Line L, connection 100, conductor 108, connection 109, conductor 117,connection 118, conductor 120, contact 90, Contact `plate 89 of therelay Q, Contact 91,-conductor 121 to solenoid 44a and conductor 122 toline L2` rl`his energizes the solenoid 114 controlling the operation ofthe spout cylinder E.

lilaving in mind the circuits as heretofore recited, the closing of thecircuit No. l through the hatchway switch 53?L energizing solenoid 44e,causes the gate B to open. When the gate reaches fully opened position,the hatchway switch M is closed as heretofore recited, closing thecontactor l), and establishing a circuit through the vtime limit relayQ. After a predetermined period, said time relay Q operates to completethe circuit No. V through contacts 90 and 91 thereof. actuating thesolenoid 14a controlling the loperation of cylinder E connected to thespout C, whereupon fluid pressure is admitted to the left end of thecylinder E and the spout C raised to the substantially horizontal dottedline position shown in Fig. 2. lVhen this spout C reaches itssubstantially horizontal position as 'just described, Ythe hatchvfayswitch N is opened breaking 'the circuit through solenoid 44. rlhereuponthe armature drops admitting pressure to the right-h and end of thecylinder E and opening` the left-hand end to exhaust, thus raising thegate B to closed position, that is, the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2 Movement of the piston 30 of the cylinder D from full line todotted linerposition opens .the hatchway switch M and closes thehatchway switch U. The circuit controlled by the hatchway switch O isthe signal circuit to the hoisting engineer. This circuit is suitablyconnected through the conductors 123 and 124 with the hatchway switch Oand a signal (not shown) in the -hoist house. W'hen the switch G isclosed, the signal is given, whereupon the hoisting engineer hoists theskip 11. l-lfoisting the skip 11 opens the hatchway switch 53a thereuponbreaking the circuit to the connection 115. ln the meantime the timelimit relay Q, has functioned to break the connection between thecontacts 90 and 91, thus opening all of the circuits which haveheretofore been described with the exception of the signal cir- I cuit.ldlhen the solenoid 14u is deenergized by the breaking ofthe Circuitcontrolled by the time limit switch Q the armature of said solenoiddrops, admitting pressure to the right-hand. end of the cylinder vE andVopening the other end to exhaust, whereupon the spout@ is moved/to itsdownmost position with respect to gate B, which is the position shown infull lines in Fig. 2, but while the gate is in closed position.

By raising the spout C as the lading is being discharged from the bin 12into the skip 11, the discharge thereof is tapered ofi' as the angle oftl-ow is decreased and the spout beingmoved to the dotted linehorizontal position of Fig. 2 tends to fill the skip with more materialthan as in the form shown in F 1 of the drawings where the spout isrigidly secured to the gate.

l/Vith the foregoing operationsclearly in mind, will be apparent thatmaterial discharged from the bin 12 will, by reason of the inclinationof the chute 18 and the spouts attached to the end gate, assume acertain angle of repose. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the material willnot lill the skip as completely as in the form shown in Fig. 2, for thereason that the spout C in Fig. 2 is raised relatively to the gate Btapering olf the flow and also directing material' above the line of thematerial possible with the arrangement of Fig. 1. 1n eitlier case,however, successive skip-loads of material will be the same, whicheverform of the invention is used. It will therefore be apparent. that Wehave provided mechanism for loading skips in mine shafts, so that everyskip load will gestor render expedient, without` departing from thespirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a skip, meansfor delivering material into said skip, a cut-oft' gate associated withsaid delivery means, a spout on said gate movable with respect thereto,power means for operating said gate, other power means for operatingsaid spout, and means actuated by the movement of said skip forcontrolling the power means associated with said gate and with saidspout.

2. A hoist-ing mechanism, including in combination, a skip, means fordischarging material into said skip, a cut-off gate associated with saiddischarge means, power mechanism for operating said gate, said mechanismincluding fluid pressure devices and electrically actuated controls forcausing delayed action oit said devices, the actuation of the controlsbeing initiated by movement of said skip.

3. A skip hoisting` mechanism, including in combination, a skip, a chutefor discharge into said skip, an oscillating end gate for the chute, aspout vcarried by the gate and movable with respect thereto, powermechanism for actuating the gate, other power mechanism for actuatingsaid spout, and means for controlling said spout actuating meansincluding a solenoid with a time limit relay included in saidsolenoidcircuit.

1l. A skip hoisting mechanism, including in combination, a skip, a chutefor delivering material to said skip, an end gate for said chutepivot-ed thereto for oscillation in a vertical direction, a spoutcarried by said gate, means for oscillating said gate including a fluidpressure device, a valve for regulating admission and discharge of fluidto said device, means for operating said valve including a solenoid, acircuit for said solenoid including a switch, and means on said skip forcontrolling said solenoid circuit, whereby on movement of said skip inone direction, said gate mayV be opened to discharge material into saidskip and a time limit relay in said circuit for causing said solenoid tomove said valve to close said gate after a predetermined interval, andmeans for indicating at a. position remote from the chute the angularposition of said gate.

5. A skip hoisting mechanism, including in combination, a skip, a bin, achute leading outwardly from said bin, said bin having an openingtherein adjacent said chute, a closure for said opening, means 'formoving said closure to vary discharge through said opening, an end gatefor said chute pivoted thereto for oscillation in a vertical direction,a spout carried 'by said gate adapted when in open position to lie atsubstantially the same inclination as said chute bottom, fluid pressuremeans for operating said gate, a valve for said means, and a controlmeans for said valve including a solenoid and a circuit therefor with atime limit relay interposed therein, and means actuated by the movementof said skip for closing said solenoid circuit.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a skipa chutefor discharging material therein, an end gate for said chute pivotedthereto and adapted for vertical oscillation, a spout carried by saidgate Yfor projecting into said skip under certain conditions, fluidpressure means for actuating said gate, a valve for controlling saidfluid pressure means, and connections between said valve and said meansincluding devices for regulating the flow between said valve and saidfluid pressure device, means for regulating said valve including asolenoid and `a switch in said solenoid circuit adapted to be closed bysaid skip in its downward movement.

7. A skip hoisting mechanism including in combination, a skip, a chutefor delivering material to said skip, an end gate for said Ychuteadapted for oscillation in a vertical plane, means for operating saidgate including a fluid pressure cylinder, a four-way valve connectedthereto, a solenoid for actuating said valve, a circuit including saidsolenoid and a trip lever, a trip on said skip adapted to operate saidtrip lever as said skip is lowered to loading position to close thecircuit through said solenoid for moving said fourway valve to open thegate, and a time limit relay in said solenoid circuit adapted to causesaid solenoid to close said valve for closing said gate after apredetermined interval.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a skip, asource of supply of material, a chute leading' therefrom, an oscillatingend gate on said chute, said skip having an inclined side, said gatehaving spout thereon and movable with respect thereto, said spoutadapted to extend within said skip under certain conditions and liesubstantially parallel to said inclined skip side to direct flow ofmaterial along said skip side at an angle obtuse thereto,vv means foractuating said gate, and separate means for actuating said spout to varyits angle of inclination with respect to the inclined side of the skip.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a skip, asource of supply of material, a chute leading therefrom, an oscillatingend gate for said chute, means for oplaisses erating said gateindependently of the skip for delivering material from said source ofYsupply into said skip under certain con`ditions, and valved means forautomatically governing the speed of operation of said 0perating means.

lOfSkip loading apparatus, including in con'ibination, a skip, a bin, achute leading from said bin for discharge into said skip, an end gatefor said chute, fluid pressure means for operating said gate, a spoutasso,- ciated with said gate so as to have vertical hinging movementwith respect thereto, fluid pressure means for moving said spout,control devices for each of said fluid pressure means, said controldevic-es being inter-connected and adapted for automatic operation in apredetermined cycle after initiation, means governed by downwardmovement of said skip for initiating the cycle of operation of saidcontrol devices for opening said gate, moving the said spout and finallyclosing said gate, said last mentioned means becoming inoperative onupward movement of said skip.

11. Skip loading apparatus, including in combination, a skip, a bin, achute leading from said bin for discharge into said skip, an end gatefor said chute, fluid pressure means for operating said gate, a spoutassociated with said gate so as to have vertical hinging movement withrespect thereto, fluid pressure means for moving said spout, cona troldevices for each of said fluid pressure means, said control -devicesbeing inter-connected and adapted for automatic operation in apredetermined cycle after initiation, means governed by downwardmovement of said skip for initiating the cycle of operation of saidcontrol devices for opening said gate, moving the said spout and finallyclosing said gate, said lastmentioned means becoming inoperative onupward movement oit said skip, said control device for said spoutoperative after said gate is closed for returning said spout to itslowest position with respect to said gate, and adapted on openingmovement of said gate to permit bodily movement of said spout with saidgate without affecting the angular relationship of said spout and saidgate during such movement.

12. lnv mechanism of the class described, in combination, a skip, meansfor delivering material into said skip, a cut-0H gate asso- 'ciated withsaid delivery means, a spout on said gate movable with respect thereto,power means for operating said gate, other power means for operatingsaid spout, control devices for said power means adapted for automaticoperation after initiation, and means controlled by movement of saidskip for initiating movements of said control devices.

13. A skip loading apparatus, in combination, a skip, a bin, a chuteleading from said bin, an oscillating end gate for said chut-e, a spoutpivoted to said gate adapted for vertical movementl about its pivotalconnection, fluid pressure means for operating said gate, other fluidpressuremeans for operating said spout, `control devices, for each ofsaid fluid pressure means, means rendered effective by said skip as itreaches loading position to actuate the control device-of said gateoperating means for opening the gate, other means connected with saidcontrol devices and rendered effective when said gate is open to permitactuation of the spout operating means,a time limit relay included Vinsaid last mentioned means operative at a predetermined interval aftersaid gate is opened kfor causing actuation of said spout operating meansto raise said spout, means actuated by said spout operating means assaid spout is raised to cause said gate operating means to close saidgate, and means rendered effective when said gate isV closed to indicatesuch position when permitting hoisting ofsaid skip.

1&1. A skip loading apparatus, including in combination, a skip, a bin,a chute leading from said bin, an oscillating end gate for said chute, aspout pivoted to said gate a-dapted for vertical movement about ispivotal con nection, fluid pressure means for operating said gate, otherfluid pressure means for operating said spout, means actuated by saidskip as it reaches loading position for causing said gate operatingmeans to` open the gate, means including a time limit relay renderedeffective by the open position ofthe gate to raise said spout after apredetermined interval, other means effective when said spout reachesits raised position to close the gate and indicate the position of saidgate for permitting hoisting of the skip, said spout operating meansoperative after said gate is closed for returning said spout to itslowest position with respect to said gate, and adapted on openingmovement of said gate to permit bodily movement of said spout with saidgate without affecting the angular relationship of said spout and sai-dgate during such movement.

15. A skip loading apparatus, including in combination, a skip, a bin, achute leading from said bin, an oscillating end gate for said chute, aspout pivtedto said gate adapted for vertical movement about its pivotalconnection, fluid pressure means for operating said gate, other fluidpressure means for operating said spout, control devices for each ofsaid fluid pressure means, said devices being interconnected and adaptedfor automatic operation in a predetermined cycle, each of said devicesincluding a four-way valve and a solenoid for operating the valve,electric circuits including said solenoids, the solenoids of the gateoperating means being included in a circuit comprising a normally closedswitch which is operated by the spout Cil mechanism under certainconditions and set up when said skip reaches loading position foropening the gate, the solenoid or' the spout operating means beingincluded in a circuit which includes a time limit relay and a contactor,which contacter is closed by the skip reaching loading position, saidtime limit relay closing the circuit to said spout solenoid after apredetermined interval for raising the spout, the spout operating meansbreaking the circuit through the gate solenoid on reaching raisedposition, thereby causing actuation of the gate operating means to closethe gate, a hoisting signal circuit established when said gate reachesclosed position, said contact or circuit being broken as said skipishoisted, thereby ,breaking` the circuit through the spout solenoid,permitting the return ot the spout to lowest position with respect tothe gate.

16. In a mechanism of the class described, a skip, a chute fordelivering material into the skip, a cutoll gate movably associated withthe chute, a spout movably carried by the gate, power means for movingthe gate from closed position to open position or vice or out of theskip, and power means for mo'ving the spout with respect to the gate sothat its angle of inclination within the skip may be varied, and meansactuated by the movement or' the skip for controlling the power means.

17. In a mechanism of the class described, a skip, a chute fordelivering material into the skip, a cutotll gate movably associatedwith the chute, a spout movably carriedby the gate, power means formoving the gate from closed position to open position or vice versa,this movement carrying the spout into or out or' the skip, and powermeans for moving the spout with respect to the gate so that its angle otinclination within the skip may be varied, and means actuated by themovement ot' the skip for causing the power means to successively openthe gate and lower the spout into the skip, elevate the spout within theskip, and then close the gate and move the spout out of the skip.

ANDREVS ALLEN. PAUL V. LEPLEY, [ecutor of Daniel F. Leplegh deceased.

